Electric flashing-switch.



Patented Feb. l3, I900. A. L. CUTTER. ELECTRIC FLASHING SWITCH.

(Appiication filed. Sept. 15, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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0.. WASHINGTON u c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMBROSE L. COTTER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO E. L. BROWNE, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC FLASHING-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,401, dated February 13, 1900.

Application filed September 15, 1899. serial No. 730,569. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMBROSE L. OOTTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Flashing-Switches; and I do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to electric flashingswitches; and the invention consists in means for automatically controlling intermittent operations of the switch, substantially as described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

One object of the invention is to provide means for automatically operating electrical displays,such as advertising-signs,and wherein either plain or colored lights are made to flash up at intervals.

Another object is to provide a switch for the purpose specified which will be simple in construction and reliable in its operation and also capable of a great number of combination of changes in lighting effects.

Another object is to cheapen the cost of construction and operation by obviating clockwork timing and motor mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front or face view of the switch, showing the contact-segments and brush-holder. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation or back view of Fig. 1, showing the operating and timing mechanism of the switch. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section on line 3 3, Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view with the regulating and contact levers shown in full and dotted lines in the two positions they assume after the contact has been broken. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the dash-pot valve.

A is a rotating switch or brush holder mounted centrally onthe front face of a pol ished slate base 13, which is supported in any suitable way by brackets or within a casing, if so desired. The brush-holder A has a series of arms 2 projecting radially from about its periphery, and upon one or more of these arms are mounted removable and interchangeable contact-brushes 3, which engage the contact-segments 4, mounted in a circle upon the face of the slate base 13. The current is cut off and on and changed from one circuit to another when the brush-holder is rotated and the brushes 3 pass from one segment 4: to the next in line. Each segment has a wire connection 5 on the back of base B, leading to binding-posts 6 on the front of the base. The connections with the lights and main line of the circuits are made from these posts direct.

. The brush-holder A is supported and fastened upon the shaft 7, which has its bearing in the bushing 8, mounted centrally upon the base B, and which extends through to the back face of the base, where a ratchet-wheel 9 is fastened upon the end of shaft 7. An intermittent rotation is imparted to this wheel 9 and shaft 7 by means of'a counterbalanced lever 10, which is loosely pivoted upon the shaft 7 at the side of ratchet-wheel 9 and actuated by the core 11 of the solenoid or electromagnet C, the pawl 12, pivoted on lever 10, engaging the ratchet-wheel at each upward movement of the core 11. A pivot-pin 13, screwed in the lower end of the core 11, rides in the slotted end of lever 10 and provides a sliding connection for the radial play of the lever and the vertical movement of the core. The counterweight at the other end of the lever merely balances but does not overcome the weight of the core, sufficient overplus weight being allowed at the core end to cause the lever to drop to the position as seen in Fig. 2, where an electrical contact is thereby 8 5 obtained which sends a current through the magnet O and energizes the same to draw the core 11 up, and thus rotate the shaft and brush holder through the ratchet wheel. Stops 14 and 15 on the plate screwed to the slate base B limit the movement of the lever and its associated parts.

The mechanism by whichthe electrical contact just described is obtained consists of a pivoted contact-lever 16, havinga carbon con- 5 tact 17 screwed on its left outer end, which comes into engagement at intermittent intervals with a fixed carbon post 17 fastened to base B. This engagement is effected when the core 11 drops, the arm 16 being pivoted on pin 13 and dropping with the core, but an immediate contact is not obtained because of a detaining or timing arrangement which keeps the magnet-circuit open and allows the switch or brush-holder A to remain stationary for a certain length of time; for the purpose of keeping the light circuits closed wherever the brushes 3 engage the segments at. This detaining or timing mechanism consists of a dash-pot 18, having a piston 19, supported on a short vertical postj20, which in turn is screwed to a pedestal 21:, fastened to the back of base B. The upper end of the post 20 is reduced in diameter and tapered at 22, which, with the tapered recess in the boss of the piston, forms a valve and valve-seat, the reduced extremity of the post passing through an an opening slightly larger in diameter than the post end. A pin 24 at the end of the post limits the upward movement of the piston, but does not close the end of the air-passage. This piston is stationary to a certain extent, the exception being the slight sliding movement when the valve is closed or openedand only the dash-pot 18 moves, it being raised or lowered by the link 25, which connects the top of the pot with l the contactlever 16 at a point near the pivot 13. YVhen the dash-pot is drawn up, the friction against the sides of the piston raises the piston unt-i1 detained by the pin 24. This opens the valve wide and allows air to enter theichamber 26 and permits the dash pot to rise freely. When the dash-pot is free to settle back, which it does by its own weight, the pistonvalve closes, andthe air within chamber 26 acts as a cushion and allows the pot to de seend only as fast as the air is liberated. The amount of air permitted to escape is governed by a screw-valve 27, located in the top of the pot, the lower end being tapered to fit into a tapered seat 28, opening into the chamher. A groove 29 runs the full length along one side of the screw and merges into the tapered end. It will be seen that as the tapered end of the screw is tightened more or less upon the seat 28 the passage for the air becomes more or less restricted and the descent of the pot is materially lengthened or short ened. The screw 27 can be adjusted to time the descent of the pot from one second to a full minute or even longer, if desired.

The operation of the switch is as follows: Vhen the parts are in the relative positions, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the current has just at this instant started to flow through magnet 0, contact having just occurred at the carbon contacts 17 17, and the magnet C is energized. This immediately draws up the core 0 and actuates the lever 10, and its pawl 12 gives the ratchet-wheel 9 a partial rotation, and thus moves the brush-holder and its brushes from one set of segments to another, thereby switching the current from one set of lights to another. As this occurs contact-lever 16 is also carried up by the core through its pivot-pin 13, but the carbon contact 17 at the left end of lever remains in touch with the carbon contact-post 17 by reason of the factthat the weight of the dashpot through its connecting-link 25 holds it down at this end. In fact the carbon contactpoint of lever 16 becomes the fulcrum by which the pot is raised as the core continues to carry the lever 10 up. when the core is about at the limit of its upward stroke, the right end of the lever 16 at the right side of the pivot-pin 13 engages a'istop 16, which checks this end and tilts the lever out of contact at the post 17 and as seen in fulllines, Fig. 4. This breaks the magnet-circuit,and the core quickly drops by its own weight, but the carbon contacts do not come into immediate engagement again owing to the position of the dash-pot 18 and its link 25. Then the core drops, the pivot-point or fulcrum'ot the lever 16 changes to the top of the link 25, and the weight upon the pivot-pin 13 throws the left end of the lever 16 upward against stop 30, as seen in dotted lines, Fig. 4E. 'ljhis action is quick, but only momentary, and as the dash-potsettles the lever 16 at the left is slowly drawn down again until contact is inade between the carbone 17 and 17, whenlthe entire operation, as previously described, is repeated. The interval of time between contacts when the circuit is again closed in the magnet is regulated and governed by the descent of the dash-pot, which can be set to settle quickly or slowly, as hereinbefore fully described.

The radial disposition of the arms 2 on the switch or brush-holder A, with one or more movable or interchangeable brushes mounted thereon, in combination with the series of contact-segments and the means for rotating the switch, provide an almost endless opportunity for obtaining electrical display combinations. All the circuits could be connected up to flash together or singly, as in spelling letters, or in groups of two or more, the combination depending upon the number of brushes and their arrangement on the brush-holder.

WVhat I claim is- 1. An electric switch and the main-line circuit, in combination with an, electromagnet and connecting mechanism to throw said switch when the magnet is energized, a separate circuit for said magnet, contact members in said circuit, means to keep said members in contact while the magnet is energized and until the switch has been thrown, and means to keep said contact members separated for an interval, substantially as described.

2. A rotating electric switch and the mainline circuit, an electromagnet having connecting mechanism to operate said switch when said magnet is energized, a separate circuit for said magnet, metallic contacts in the magnet-circuit, a contact-controlling lever opererated by said magnet, and a dash-pot connected to said lever to keep said contact-lever in and also out of engagement with said contacts, substantially as described.

3. A rotating electric switch having a ratchet-wheel, pawl, and actuating-lever, an electromagnet to operate said lever when said magnet is energized, and an electrical circuit for said switch, in combination with a separate circuit for said magnet, metallic contacts in said magnet-circuit,controlling mechanism for said contacts having means to keep said magnet-circuit closed until the switch has been operated, means to separate said contacts and break said magnet circuit and means to keep said magnet-circuit open for an interval of tim e,substantially as described.

4. A rotating electric switch and an elect-romagnet mounted on opposite sides of an insulated base, connecting mechanism for said switch operated by said magnet, separate circuits for said switch and magnet, contacts in the magnet-circuit, a contact-lever pivoted to the magnet-armature core,and a dash-pot connected between the pivot and contact end of said lever, substantially as described.

5. The combined electric flashing-switch and electromagnet mounted on opposite sides of an insulated base and operative mechanism connecting said switch and magnet, separate circuits for said switch and magnet, contacts and contact mechanism. in the magnetcircuit operated by said magnet, and a dashpot connected to said contact mechanism to control the length of time the magnet is in and out of circuit, substantially as described.

6. An electric flashing-switch and a controlling-electromagnet mounted on opposite sides of an insulated base, and operative mechanism connecting said switch and magnet, separate electrical circuits for said switch and magnet, contacts in the magnet-circuit, a contact-controlling lever operated by said magnet, and a dash-pot to keep the lever in contact and also out of contact at intervals, substantially as described. 7

7. The combined electric flashing-switch and electromagnet having connecting operating mechanism, separate electrical circuits for said switch and magnet, contacts in the magnet-circuit, a controlling contact-lever connected to the magnet-armature core, a dash-pot connected to said lever to hold the contacts in engagement until the switch is operated and to time and control the descent of the lever before contact is again established, and means to break the lever-contact after the switch has been operated, substantially as described.

8. An electric flashing-switch and a circuit therefor, in combination with an electromagnet havinga separate circuit, operating mechanism for said switch actuated by said magnet, contact members in the magnet-circuit, means to keep said members in contact while the magnet-armature coreis being attracted, means to separate said contact members after the switch mechanism has been actuated, and means to keep said contact members apart for a predetermined length of time, substantially as described.

0. The combined electric flashing-switch and electromagnet, mechanism to operate said switch, separate electrical circuits for said switch and magnet, electrical contacts in the magnet-circuit, a lever pivoted to the core of said magnet to make and break said contacts, a dash-pot connected to said lever to keep said contacts in engagement for a limited period, means to actuate the lever to break the contact when the core is near the limit of its upward movement, and a valve in said pot to time and control the descent of the dash-pot and contact-lever, substantially as described.

10. An electric flashing-switch, an electromagnet and mechanism to operate said switch, separate electrical circuits for said switch and magnet, electrical contacts in the magnet-circuit, a contact-lever operated by the core or armature ot' the magnet to open and close the magnet-circuit, and a dash-pot to control said lever having a post and a piston supported to slide on said post and an air-inlet valve controlled by said movement, in combination with an air-outlet screw-valve having a tapered end and tapered seat and an opening running from the outer end to the tapered end of the screw, substantially as described.

11. An electric flashing-switch and an electromagnet and mechanism to operate said switch, separate circuits for said switch and magnet, an electrical contact-lever actuated by the core or armature of said magnet, contacts in said magnet-circuit controlled by said lever, and a dash-pot having a valved piston and an adjustable air-outlet valve connected to said lever to control the time that the magnet is in and out of circuit, substantially as described.

12. A rotating electric switch having a series of brush-holder arms about its periphery, a series of removable and interchangeable contact-brushes for said arms, and a circular series of contact-segments mounted on an insulated base, in combination with means to rotate said switch at intermittent intervals, substantially as described.

13. An electric flashing-switch and an electromagnet mounted on opposite sides ofan insulated base, separate circuits for said switch and magnet, operating mechanism connecting said switch and magnet, contacts in the magnetcircuit, a contact-controlling lever operated by said magnet, a dash-pot and a connection to said lever which keeps the contacts in circuit while the switch is operated, a stop for said lever to throw said contacts out of circuit, and means to detain the descent of said pot and lever for a predetermined time, substantially as described.

14. An electric flashing-switch mounted on the face of an insulated base, in combination with an electromagnet having ratchet-Wheel, pawl-and-lever mechanism mounted on the back of said base to operate said switch, separate circuits for said switch and magnet, contacts in the magnet-circuit, a contact-controlling lever pivoted to the magnet-armature core, a dash-pot and a link connected to said lever at a point between the pivot and contact end, a stop to engage the lever and sep arate the contacts, and air inlet and outlet valves for said dash-pot, substantially as described.

15. A rotating switch having a series of brush-holder arms about its periphery, a series of removable and interchangeable contact-brushes for said arms, and a circular series of contact-segments mounted on the face of. an insulated base, a ratchet-wheel, pawl and leverfor said switch, and an electromagnet to operate said lever, separate circuits for said switch and magnet, contacts in the magnet-circuit, contact-controlling mechanism operated by said magnet, and means to detain and control said contact mechanism, substantially as described.

16. An insulated base, a rotating switch on the front face and an electromagnet on the back face of said base, a switch-shaft and bushing therefor passing through said base, a ratchet-wheel for said shaft and a pawl and lever connected to the magnet-core to operate said ratchet-Wheel, separate circuits for said switch and magnet, contacts in the magnet-circuit, a controlling contact-lever pivoted to the magnet-core, and a dash-pot having air inlet and outlet valves connected to said contact-lever, substantially as described.

17. A rotating switch mounted on the front face of an insulated base and contacts for said switch, in combination with an electromagnet, ratchet-Wheel, pawl and lever torotate said switch, separate circuits for said switch and magnet, contacts 17 and 17 in the magnet-circuits, a controlling contact-lever 16 operated by said magnet, a stop 16 for said lever, and a dash-pot 18 having a lever-connecting link 25, a piston 19 and supporting-post 20, and an adjustable air-outlet screw-valve 27, substantially as described.

Witness my hand to the foregoing specification this 9th day of September, 1898.

AMBROSE L. OOTTEH. Vitnesses:

H. T. FISHER, R. 4;. MosER. 

